.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has dealt with the team considering that 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers established very early that Thursday night's activity would certainly be a repulsive slugfest with both crews scoring touchdowns on their very first properties, so it seemed to be suitable the NFC South showdown will be actually chosen through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gone into the competition after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time expired in regulation forced overtime, and also Cousins looked after the rest as he established a franchise business file with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th consent passing touchdown in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the final five times, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between creating the playoffs and also certainly not, in between succeeding a department as well as not, lies in games enjoy this one, and also Atlanta georgia has already possessed its portion of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter in every 3 of their success this season. They are the first string in NFL background to possess 3 triumphes within their 1st five games of a period through which they tracked in the final min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with impressive back-to-back wins over New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta possesses an early lead in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly verify crucial in December as well as January in what appears to be a strict division.QB break down: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 yards as well as three touchdowns in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be leading when he encounters Tampa bay Gulf-- three of his four occupation 100-yard activities have come versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise got his 1st touchdown against Tampa bay Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two times along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game along with various touchdown gets-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a rushing and also receiving goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 backyards are each near to job highs for him. He carried out have two decreases, however, consisting of one that might have verified costly.Most astonishing efficiency: A week after not catching an elapsed versus New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts placed in his finest statistical activity in nearly a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again becoming portion of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches as well as gardens are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay gaining the branch recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, along with it now being a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a considerable amount of players it needs to receive well-balanced, as well as it has nine times to carry out it. The Bucs have to discover how to complete, however, along with the affront fully obstructed in the 2nd fifty percent and bad addressing on defense.QB breakdown: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, three touchdowns-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, with all three touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st 5 activities are an occupation best.But after the huge first one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely performed everything in the 2nd fifty percent with the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategy: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons regularly exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 yards of total injustice. It took a breakthrough last week versus the Eagles in terms of overlooked attacks however struggled against the Falcons in this team. The Falcons completed with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a game considering that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).